The Stanhopea Pages

-> The Stamps

As far as I have been able to determine, there are at least 28 stanhopeas depicted on stamps, representing eight different species. They are listed below, in chronological order, with their corresponding Scott/Michel numbers. If you find any additional issues, or can provide digital images for any of the stamps listed, please do not hesitate to contact me!

1988/10/10 R.P. Kampuchea (Cambodia), Stanhopea tigrina, 3 Riels [Gibbon 935; Scott 976-982] The Stanhopea is pictured as the center stamp in this grouping. The stunning red, white and yellow flower is depicted on a light-blue background. The set of seven orchid stamps ranges in value from 0.2R (20 sen) to 3R.

1990/09/12 Guyana, Stanhopea with bird "Welcome Trogon", $8.90 One of a set of seven.

1990/09/12 Guyana, Stanhopea with bird "Golden-headed Train", $12.65 One of a set of seven orchids and birds.
1991/??/?? Guyana, Stanhopea grandiflora, $12.80

1997/-/- Dominica, Stanhopea grandiflora souvenir sheet [MS2290b]

1998/??/?? Belize, Stanhopea cornuta, 75-cent [--] One of a set of four Christmas orchid stamps. Others are Isochilus carnosiflorus and an Encyclia.

2001/--/-- Peru, Stanhopea sp., S/.1,50 value
One of a set of three stamps, Orquideas del Peru. Others depicted are Chloraea pavoni (S/.3,20) and a Psychopsis sp. (S/.3,80). Photo at right provided by Kelvin Bush, UK.

2007 Mozambique, "Stanhopea", 33.00 value
This miniature sheet includes six stamps of orchids and hummingbirds, one of which, at lower left, is labeled "Stanhopea" alongside a bird labeled "Veniliornis." What is actually pictured appears to be a pink cymbidium hybrid.

2009 Republic of Congo, Stanhopea nigroviolacea 600 F (Central African Franc = CFA)
One of a set of four stamps issued on a miniature sheet, "Champignons et Orchidees." This is the only orchid, other stamps depict the White bat flower (Taca Integrifolia) 400 F, and two mushrooms (200 F, 800 F). The two flower stamps on this sheet contain errors: the labeling of the images of the Stanhopea and the Taca sp. are reversed! SV0504

Additional information about orchid stamps may be found in the excellent books by:

Peggy Alrich, 1991, Orchids on Stamps, 88 pages, ATA Handbook 118, issued at $9.00, American Topical Association, PO Box 630, Johnstown, PA 15907 USA
This soft-cover book includes stamp listings by country as well as by genus, with nine pages of black and white photos. Also available from the American Orchid Society Book Department.

Also, see the list of worldwide "Orchid Stamps" published quarterly in sections by the Chalmers family on behalf of the
Orchid Stamp Club International and sent to members. The quarterly listing is arranged alphabetically by country, continually updating the initial, comprehensive work done by Peggy Alrich.